by
Randy Emon
www.IronGuys.Org
One of the most volatile types of calls any police officer can handle is that of a domestic dispute between a husband and wife or domestic partners. When police officers arrive at these disputes, officers will routinely separate the two parties far enough away from the other in order to get their side of the story while still maintaining visual sight of the other officer at all times. One thing I discovered early in my career was to never smile while speaking to either of the domestic partners or spouses. Why? Let’s say I smiled while listening to the husband’s side of the story and the wife saw me. I found that doing so, the wife felt I was instantly taking sides with her husband and the situation would often escalate with the wife’s anger now focused at both her husband and me. After law enforcement officers have handled a few of these domestic calls, they quickly learn to be stone-faced at all times to avoid the appearance of favoring one party over the other.
Another non-verbal communication technique practiced by law enforcement officers is the use of hand signals. The most common hand signal street cops will use between themselves is displaying four fingers (Code 4) which means they don’t need any help. For instance, during a domestic dispute, I’ve sometimes found it hard to determine if my partner/officer was OK so, I’d flash him/her four fingers with an inquisitive look on my face. The other officer instantly knew I was concerned for their safety and if they responded with four fingers, then I knew the officer was OK. If they did not respond with four fingers, I’d know the situation was escalating and the other officer might need immediate assistance. Over the years, I have come to rely not only on non-verbal communication (such as hand signals), but after frequently working with the same officer(s) over and over, we’d learn to trust and depend on the other officers non-verbal mannerisms, demeanor and actions which can communicate whether a state of danger exists or not. After working with the same officers for a while, we intuitively knew what the other was going to say or do which made our jobs much easier over the years.
Even my children would pick up on my non-verbal mannerisms especially when I would lower my head and glare at them over the top of my glasses. Whenever they saw that, they knew I meant business.
I came across an interesting story in the Book of Exodus which also depicted some non-verbal communication with an awesome message. Let’s see if you can pick up on it, “Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, ‘Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning.’”1
Moses told the Israelites to perform this procedure so that the death angel would pass over their home sparing their lives. So, did you catch it? Check out this non-verbal message: The blood of the lamb or goat was to be drained in a basin at the entrance of their front door where normally the dusty feet of family or guests would be cleaned. Then they were to take a branch from a bush (like a paint brush) and then dip it in the blood.
Let’s digress for a moment. Imagine you’re standing at the front door to your home. The directions said to bend over, dip the brush in the blood and brush the blood on top of the door. (By doing so, you’ve just created an imaginary vertical straight line in the middle of the door.) Now while standing (at chest height), next, you’re to brush the blood on the left and right door frames. (You just created an imaginary horizontal straight line). Have you picked up on the non-verbal communication yet? If not, try it on a piece of paper. Draw a door and then draw the lines. Wow! Yes, it is a cross.
Isn’t that non-verbal picture awesome?
Ya see, even on the night of the Passover, over a thousand years prior, we we’re being pointed to the saving blood of the Cross of Christ who was yet to come and save us from eternal death. All I can say is WOW!
FAQs
Officers who follow the code are unable to report fellow officers who participate in corruption due to the unwritten laws of their "police family". Police perjury or "testilying" (in United States police slang) is when an officer gives false testimony in court.
Why do police officers say you have the right to remain silent? ›
The Fifth Amendment right against compelled self incrimination is the right to remain silent—the right to refuse to answer questions or to otherwise communicate information. The duty to warn only arises when police officers conduct custodial interrogations.
What happens if you say nothing during an interrogation? ›
Police also may claim that if you don't answer questions, it is “obstruction of justice.” That is not true. You have every right not to answer questions which could incriminate you.
What happens if you stay silent during interrogation? ›
The corollary of Miranda warnings is that the prosecution cannot use a suspect's silence as evidence of guilt in a court of law—otherwise the warnings would be meaningless.
What does 126 mean for cops? ›
If you saw the 126 reference on a police TV show or courtroom, they were probably referring to section 126 of the California Penal Code: Perjury (lying about material information under oath). If it was a police show from a geographical area outside California 126 could have a completely different meaning.
What does 469 mean in police code? ›
Under California Penal Code Section 469 PC, the unauthorized duplication of keys to a state building is a crime that can result in jail time for those convicted.
Can a cop handcuff you without reading your rights? ›
Do I Have to Be Read My Miranda Rights When Handcuffed? The question of whether Miranda rights must be read upon arrest is a nuanced one. In essence, the obligation to recite Miranda rights isn't a prerequisite for all arrests, contrary to portrayals in popular media.
What to say when a cop asks you where you are going? ›
You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live.
Can you lose the right to remain silent? ›
The Supreme Court recently ruled that answering law enforcement questions may be taken as a waiver of your right to remain silent, so it is important that you assert your rights and maintain them. Only a judge can order you to answer questions.
Can you just walk out of an interrogation? ›
You can say, “I do not want to talk to you” and walk away calmly. Or, if you do not feel comfortable doing that, you can ask if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, you can consider just walking away.
Officers want to know where people are coming from so they can draw conclusions about their whereabouts. Suppose an officer has a hunch that someone is intoxicated, if the person says they are coming from brunch, a bar, or a club, you can now expect the cop to be on high alert.
What is the golden rule of interrogation? ›
THE GOLDEN RULE OF INTERROGATION
securing the first admission is the biggest stumbling block in dealing with tough suspects”. - It is the application of instruments and methods of physical science to the detection of crimes.
How to get cops to leave you alone? ›
You have to say, “I am invoking my right to remain silent and won't be answering any more questions without a lawyer.” At this point, the officers should leave you alone.
Does remaining silent make you look guilty? ›
Remaining silent DOES NOT make you look guilty.
In reality, this is far from the truth. Silence is not an admission of wrongdoing; instead, it is a prudent choice made to protect oneself from unintended self-incrimination. The right to silence cannot be used against you in court.
Why would someone choose to stand silent in court? ›
It is better to remain silent until your criminal defense lawyer verifies that a legitimate deal is being offered in exchange for the information. Pleading guilty can wait - Even suspects who are guilty and want to admit to the charge should stay quiet until they have received counsel from a legal professional.
What is the code of silence? ›
A code of silence is a condition in effect when a person opts to withhold what is believed to be vital or important information voluntarily or involuntarily.
What does 7 Adam mean in police code? ›
At the LAPD, an "Adam" radio call sign designates a two-officer uniformed patrol unit, the basic field unit for LAPD. It is preceded and followed by a number. The first number is the division or patrol area, and the second is the beat area designator. " 7-Adam-5" would be a Wilshire area patrol car, assigned to beat 5.
What does a 211 mean in police code? ›
The police officer dispatch code "211" refers to a potential robbery in progress, and is the police code that dispatchers use to inform patrol units that a robbery has been reported in a specified location.
What is the code of silence called? ›
History. Omertà is a code of silence, according to one of the first Mafia researchers Antonio Cutrera, a former officer of public security. It seals lips of men even in their own defense and even when the accused is innocent of charged crimes.
